“Nine out of ten Mexico City residents would call it the city’s symbol.” That’s how deeply the Ángel de la Independencia is ingrained in the hearts of locals. More formally, it’s known as the Monumento a la Independencia. This monument has watched over its glorieta on Paseo de la Reforma since 1910. That year marked the centennial of Mexican Independence.
Among Reforma’s ten Glorietas, the Ángel is hard to miss. However, its story is often overlooked. Antonio Rivas Mercado designed and built the monument. You might know him better for his Municipal Palace in Tlalpan. His former house is now a museum.
Originally, the base had nine steps. Due to the sinking ground, fourteen more steps were added later. Bronze sculptures at the base stand for law, war, justice, and peace. Rivas Mercado’s statue shows a giant lion with a child. It symbolizes “the Mexican people strong during war and docile during peace.”
The column soars 36 meters high or 118 feet. Inside, a staircase with 200 steps once led to an observation deck. Today it is not always open. The capital boasts a Corinthian style. Four eagles with outstretched wings adorn it.
At the very top, a 6.7-meter or 22-foot statue of Nike stands. She is the Greek goddess of victory. Enrique Alciati, a French-Italian artist, designed and cast the figure. It weighs seven tons. The laurel wreath she holds crowns Miguel Hidalgo’s head below.
In her other hand, the goddess holds a broken chain. Its three links stand for 300 years of broken Spanish rule. Thus freedom.
The monument’s cornerstone was laid in 1902. During an earthquake in 1957, the figure crashed. It broke upon impact. The restoration took over a year. The original head of the sculpture now resides in the Mexico City Historic Archive. It is within the Palace of the Counts of Heras and Soto.
Just inside the monument, there’s a statue of William Lamport. He was an Irishman. The Spanish crown executed him for sedition in 1659. The remains of fourteen heroes of the War for Independence are buried here. Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rests here. He is considered the “Father of the Nation.” He started the independence movement. Father José María Morelos y Pavón is also here. He led the independence after Hidalgo’s execution.
Ignacio Allende lies here as well. He was a lieutenant general. He later became a rebel leader. Juan Aldama was a rebel captain and conspirator. José Mariano Jiménez was Hidalgo’s lieutenant colonel. Guadalupe Victoria commanded the insurgent army. He became Mexico’s first president. Vicente Guerrero was an insurgent general. He became the second president after Morelos’s death. Nicolás Bravo also rests here. He commanded the rebel army and became president three times. Mariano Matamoros was a priest. He served as Morelos’s lieutenant general. Andrés Quintana Roo was a Constitutional supporter. Leona Vicario was a journalist and rebel supporter. Francisco Javier Mina or Xavier Mina joined the rebel cause. Pedro Moreno and Víctor Rosales are also interred here.
The Ángel de la Independencia is a frequent site for celebrations. Especially after football or international competitions. It is also a gathering place for protests, marches, and parades. If you are in good shape, you can climb to the top of the tower on weekends. The views are worth the effort.